# Sonopress

> German record label

**Wikidata**: [Q10373382](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10373382)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sonopress

## Summary
Sonopress is a German record label founded in West Germany in 1988. Established by RCA Records, it operates as a brand for marketing music recordings and is currently owned by Arvato.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: Founded in 1988.
- **Origin**: Based in West Germany.
- **Founder**: RCA Records.
- **Ownership**: Owned by Arvato.
- **Industry**: Phonographic industry; operates as a record label (brand and trademark for marketing music recordings and music videos).
- **Label Code**: 04241 (designated as SONOPRESS).
- **Discogs ID**: 95728.
- **MusicBrainz ID**: 74798c34-7882-4f24-b47b-adb1418ff839.
- **VIAF ID**: 126876150.
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/1217j9d6.
- **Crunchbase Organization ID**: rimo-entertainment.
- **Website**: https://www.sonopress.de/.

## FAQs
- **What is Sonopress?**
  Sonopress is a German record label founded in 1988 by RCA Records. It functions as a commercial imprint and brand associated with music recordings and videos.
- **Who owns and founded Sonopress?**
  The label was founded by RCA Records and is currently owned by Arvato.
- **How is Sonopress identified in music databases?**
  It holds the label code 04241 and is indexed in MusicBrainz as a German vinyl, cassette, CD, and DVD manufacturer, with the ID 74798c34-7882-4f24-b47b-adb1418ff839. It also appears in Discogs with ID 95728.
- **What distinguishes a record label like Sonopress from a record company?**
  Sonopress operates as a record label, which is defined as a brand and trademark for marketing music, distinct from a record company, which is the operational entity handling business functions like production and contracts.

## Why It Matters
Sonopress serves as a significant entity within the phonographic industry, illustrating the distinction between brand identity and operational management. As a label founded by RCA Records and later owned by Arvato, it represents a commercial imprint essential for the marketing and distribution of music recordings and videos. Its classification highlights the role of labels in managing intellectual property and artist identity, functioning as the public-facing brand in the music ecosystem while the parent company handles logistical and financial operations.

## Notable For
- **Dual Identity**: Functions as both a brand/trademark and a commercial imprint, distinct from operational record companies.
- **Manufacturing Scope**: Annotated in MusicBrainz as a manufacturer of vinyl, cassettes, CDs, and DVDs.
- **Corporate Lineage**: Transitioned from founding by RCA Records to ownership by Arvato.
- **Digital Integration**: Mapped to multiple ontologies including MusicBrainz, Discogs, VIAF, and the Google Knowledge Graph.

## Body
### Definition and Scope
Sonopress is a brand and trademark central to the **phonographic industry**, specializing in the marketing of **music recordings** and **music videos**. It operates as a **commercial name** and **imprint** under a **record company**, which handles the logistical and financial aspects of music production. The entity is classified as a subclass of trade name, brand, trademark, and music organization, emphasizing its role as both a legal and cultural entity.

### Founding and Ownership
The label was founded in **1988** in **West Germany** by **RCA Records**. According to structured data references, it is currently owned by **Arvato**. This ownership structure places Sonopress within a larger corporate framework while maintaining its distinct brand identity as a record label.

### Industry Classification and Identifiers
Sonopress is integral to the **phonographic industry**, categorized alongside other entities responsible for music production, distribution, and sales. It possesses several unique identifiers across digital and library systems:
- **Label Code**: 04241 (qualified as SONOPRESS).
- **VIAF ID**: 126876150.
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/1217j9d6.
- **Crunchbase Organization ID**: rimo-entertainment.
- **Library of Congress Classification**: The concept of a record label falls under ML3792.A-ML3792.Z (Music trade - Individual record companies/labels).

### Digital and Database Presence
Sonopress is extensively documented across major music and semantic web databases, ensuring interoperability in digital knowledge systems:
- **MusicBrainz**: ID `74798c34-7882-4f24-b47b-adb1418ff839`. It is annotated as "Sonopress (Sonopress GmbH, German vinyl, cassette, CD and DVD manufacturer. see annotations)."
- **Discogs**: Label ID `95728`, listed as "Sonopress."
- **Wikidata**: Mapped as an instance of a record label, with connections to P264 (record label) and other semantic properties.
- **Website**: The entity maintains a digital presence at `https://www.sonopress.de/`.

### Differentiation from Record Companies
While often conflated in general usage, Sonopress operates as a **record label** (brand identity), which differs from a **record company** (operational entity). A record company handles business functions such as production and contracts, whereas the label serves as the public-facing brand and trademark for the music content. This distinction is codified in knowledge bases where "record label" is explicitly defined as distinct from "record company."

## References

1. MusicBrainz
2. Discogs